Life-preserving corset



(No Model.)

A. A. FEARN.

LIFE PRESERVING consm'.

Patented July 20, 1886.

Jig". 2.

ZVETNESS S:

N. PETERS, Phnlu-Lilhognphor. Warning, 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMELIA A. FEARN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIFE-PRESERVINVG CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,960, dated July 20,1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AMELIA A. FEARN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State ofPennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Life-Preserving Corsets,which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspectiye viewof a corset embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a section in line00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

My invent-ion consists of a corset which is provided with stays of cork,which stays extend from the top to the bottom of the corset, whereby itforms a life-preserver, is prevented from rusting, and sets comfortablyon the body.

It further consists of aguard for preventing chafing action of thelacing of thecorset.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a corset, and B represents thestays thereof, said stays being formed of pieces or strips of cork,which are fitted in pockets of the corset.

The corset may be worn as usual, but is more especially designed for useby one traveling on water, in which case, owing to its buoyant nature,it is admirably adapted for life-preserving purposes. The stays, owingto their flexible nature, set comfortably in position, and yield withthe motions of the body, and preserve the shape of the corset. They arenot liable to break or rust, nor cut through the fabric, and may be madethin and light, so that the weight of the corset is materially reduced.

guard also containing cork stays, thus increas U ing the buoyant natureof the corset.

I am aware that it is not new to place in or attach to various kinds ofgarments pieces of cork of different sizes for the purpose of adding tothe buoyancy of the same, and thereby afford protection to the wearerthereof, and such I do not claim; but I am not aware that strips of corkhave been used as stays or sup ports in corsets, the same possessing theadvantages over the stays now used, as hereinbefore fully set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desirentosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A corset having stays formed of strips of cork, each strip composedof a single piece extendingfrom the top to the bottom of said corset,and secured in a pocket therein, substantially as described.

2. A corset having a lacing-guard provided with strips of cork extendingfrom the top to the bottom thereof, substantially as described.

AMELIA A. FEARN.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. HURLBURT, MARY B. S. DRURY.

